And the only complaint Newcastle United fans had afterwards was that if Bellamy had been introduced earlier then they would probably have got home half an hour earlier.

Bellamy himself was in a hurry and his superb hat-trick in the space of 12 minutes brought back memories of the occasion Alan Shearer took a minute longer to put three goals into the same end in the 4-3 victory over Leicester City in the days of Kenny Dalglish in February 1997.

So far this season United have gone a goal down in each of their four domestic matches.

And it wasn't a shock when Lloyd Owusu glided through the United defence and gave Brentford a deserved 17th-minute lead.

But even the visiting striker must have been surprised at the way the United defence conveniently parted to let him go through unchallenged and give Steve Harper no chance with his shot.

This was just what Brentford wanted and what United - showing six changes from the side which trounced Middlesbrough - did not.

And with the Brentford fans in boisterous and humorous voice, this lifted Steve Coppell's side and suddenly the 11/1 odds for an away victory were beginning to look as though they could be a mockery.

But to United's credit, as against Chelsea, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, they did not panic.

Though it must be said that, had they slowed the game down more and played their football, extra time may not have been necessary.

Laurent Robert had the beating of his man again but his colleagues did not seem to realise this and the Frenchman was starved of the ball and consequently started to drift inside.

But United fire on both flanks these days and, while Robert did not have a hand in any of the goals, Nobby Solano made two of them.

However, Shola Ameobi's 59th-minute equaliser only came after a superb ball inside the full back from Shearer set up Solano to cross into the middle.

Having drawn level, the United fans understandably sat back and waited for their side to finish Brentford off and they probably would have done so had Christian Bassedas not emulated Solano's miss against Sunderland with a weak header.

And in the end United must have been happy enough to see extra time arrive, with Owusu squandering a great chance in the 78th minute and Wayne Quinn getting in a do-or-die tackle in injury time.

Robson sent on Bellamy for Quinn in extra time and the fresh pair of legs did the trick.

Bellamy is always lively and his pace, running and shooting finally killed off a gallant Brentford.

Bellamy's first goal came out of nothing, his second after a kick up the middle from Harper and his hat-trick was a regulation tap-in at the far post after a super cross from Solano.

United were flattered by the final scoreline but this won't worry them as they go into the hat for Saturday's third-round draw.

By then Shearer will have recovered from two hours of hard slog, including a spell near the end when he got in some terrific defending.

VERDICT: That's 12 matches unbeaten. Can United make it a lucky 13 against Manchester United on Saturday?